Door holder



June 2, 1925. 1,540,651

S. J. RAWLINGS DOOR HOLDER Filed July 22, 1924' Sheets-shut 1 {figui\ l. R) n H II I' M i '1'11 i'i'II: ff

5. J6 wlz'n s Gm: nu;

June 2, 1928,

S. J. RAWLINGS DOOR HOLDER Filed July 22. 1924 2 Sheets-Shut 2 all: l.

Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL J. RAWLINGS, or REAR-NY, Nnw mam".

PATENT OFFICE.

noon I-IOILDERI.1

Application filed'July 22, 1924. Serial No. 727,542.

This invention relates to certain improvements in door holders and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character embodying novel and im proved means whereby the door may be held ajar, said means being releasable to permit the door to be swung into open position for entrance or exit only when the door is in completely closed position.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel and improved holder of this general character whereby a door may be effectively held ajar and in a manner Whereby said means cannot be rendered inoperative to permit full opening of the door by a person outside of the room in which the door opens.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this kind comprising means whereby a door may be effectively held ajar and which is also adapted to be used as a check to hold the door in fully open position;

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved door holder whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a fragmentary.elevational view illustrating a holder constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, a second arrangement of the holder being indicated by broken lines; I I

of staterooms and is known Figure 2 is a sectional. view taken substantially on the line22 of Figure 1, illustrating my improved holder in top plan the associated door being indicated ajar and in fully open position by broken lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating in detail'my improved holder the door being in fully closed position;

Figure 4 is a viewpartly insection and partly in top plan of the device as illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in top plan of my improved holder as herein disdoor a ar;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 5.

My improved holder is particularly adapted for use in connection with doors I on shipboard as an ajar hook for holding the doors partly open for ventilation. However, I donot wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular use as the same can be used closed with the rod in position to hold the with equal facility in hotels and private homes.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, IV denotes a wall provided with a door opening 0 with which coacts in a wellknown mannera swinging door D opening within the room.

Secured by the screws 1 or the like to the inner face of the door at a desired point along its free vertical marginal portion is a plate 2, said plate immediately adjacent to the free vertical edge of the door outwardly disposed, as at 3, on a predetermined incline and terminating in the vertically spaced knuckles 4ipreferably three in number. Snugly fitting between the lower two knuckles 4 is a plate 5 while interposed between the upper two knuckles l is a washer 6. Disposed'through the knuckles 4, the washer 6 and the plate 5 is a bolt 7 having associated therewith ah'ol'dingnut being 8, said bolt 7 serving as a pintle about which tension 9 is partially received within a recess 10 provided in the lower portion of the inner extremity of a rod 11 of predetermined length. The inner extremity of the rod 11 is enlarged, as at 12, the major part of said enlarged portion being disposed above the rod and having an opening 1%1 extending lengthwise therethrough; the outer end 15 of which being slightly reduced while the inner end of the opening is closed by the plug 16 threaded within said end portion of the opening 14. Slidably disposed through the restricted end 15 of the opening is a plunger 17 the inner end of which being enlarged, as at 18, to prevent the plunger passing entirely through the restricted end 15 of the opening. The plunger 17 is properly applied upon removal of the plug 16. The plunger 17 is constantly urgedoutwardly by an expansible member 19, herein disclosed as a coil spring, arranged within the opening 14 and interposed between the inner.

end ofthe plunger 17 and the applied plug 16.

Secured to th wall W is an elongated hollow member or box B substantially square in cross section and having its opposite ends open. This member or box B is secured to the wall at a predetermined position below the horizontal plane of the plate 2 and substantially perpendicular to the vertical; The member or box B has secured. as at 20, to a side wall thereof adjacent its opposite ends the cross cleats 21 extending above and below the member or box to provide lugs or feet 22 whereby the memher or box may be secured to the wall W by the screws 23 or the like.-

The top wall 24 of the member or box B is provided substantially entirely therealong with a slot 25 open at the outer end of the member or box B the side walls of said slot 25 at the outer or open end portion thereof, as at 26, being disposed in divergence for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The bottom wall 27 of the member or box B directly below the slot 25 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced openings 28 through which is adapted to be disposed selectively the depending arm 29 arranged at the outer end portion of the rod 11 whereby the door D may be held partly open or ajar as desired.

The arm 29 inwardly of its outer or free end is provided with an outstanding annular flange 30 of a maximum diameter in excess of the width of the slot 25 but readily passing between the diverging edges 26 of the slot 25 when the door D is completely closed. said arm 11 being of such alength as to permit the arm 29 to be positioned directly above the space between the diverging edges 26 when the door isin such completely closed position. lVhen in such position the spring pressed plunger 17 maintains the free end of the arm 29 in contact with the bottom wall 27 of the member or box B with the flange 30 below the top wall 24.

Upon opening movement of the door D the arm 29 will move inwardly of the bottom wall 27 and be caused to drop through the required opening 28 to hold the door ajar or partly open as desired. As the flange 30 is of a maximum diameter greater than the width of the slot 25, it will be un. derstood that the rod 11 together with its arm 29 will operateefl'ectively to prevent anyone outside of the room tocompletely disengage the arm 29 from the member or box Bin order to effect an entrance within the room because the arm 29 can only be freed from the member or box B when the door D is completely closed. Such partly open or aj ar position of the door I) is indicated by broken lines in Figure 2.

- .When the door is in its fully open position as indicated by broken lines in Figures 1 MM 2 the rod 11 may be thrown back to permit the arm 29 to engage with a suitably positioned keeper 31.

' When the device is not in use to hold or check a door ajar or fully open the rod 11 may be swung backward and engaged with the supporting hook 3201 the like carried by the door D so that said rod 11 will be prevented from swinging down and in the way of closing the door.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, my improved holder is shown for use at the left side of a door but the same parts can be readily used at the right side of the I door it only being necessary to invert the rod 11.

The outer end portion of the top wall 21 of the member or box B isprovided with the upstanding lugs 88 arranged at opposite sides of the slot 25 and also with the upstanding lugs 3 1 arranged at opposite sides of the slot 25 and at a point substantially midway of the member or box B.

' A person leaving siring to completely close the door D and looking it will have a tendency to place the arm 29 inwardly of the outer end of the member or box B with the flange 3O resting on the top wall 241. The lugs 33 and 341-. provide stops whereby the door D will be prevented from being blown completely closed or pulled into closed position by someone passing the room. Otherwise upon the room and not decomplete closing of the door D the flange sure the device to operate in a noiseless manner and which is further facilitated by having the portion of the arm 29 outwardly of the flange 30 tapered so that no lost motion is encounteredin inserting the arm through With the door held a j ar by the rod 11, f

the same can be readily returned to closed position by imposing the requisite lifting or upward swinging movement to the rod 11.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a door holder constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenienc and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a wall having an opening, a swinging closure member therefor, a hollow member secured to the wall adjacent to the opening and provided with a slot in one of its walls, one end of the slot being open, a rod, means for operatively connecting the rod to the door, an arm carried by the rod and insertable with the member through the slot, an enlargement carried by the arm adapted to extend within the member, said enlargement being of a width greater than the width of the slot, the open end portion of the slot being enlarged to permit said enlargement of the arm to pass therethrough, said arm being in position to be moved through the enlarged portion of the slot only when the door is in completely closed position, said member being provided with means for coaction with the arm to hold the door ajar.

2. In combination with a wall having an opening, a swinging closure member there'- for, a hollow member secured tothe wall adjacent to the opening and provided with a. slot in one of its walls, one end of the slot being open, a rod, means for operatively connecting the rod to the door, an arm carried by the rod and insertable with the member through the slot, an enlargement car ried by the arm adapted to extend within the member, said enlargement being of a width greater than the width of the slot, the open end portion of the slot being enlarged to permit said enlargement of the arm to pass therethrough, said arm being in position to be moved through the enlarged portion of the slot only when the door is in completely closed position, said member being provided hold the door aj-ar, the operative connection of the arm to the door permitting the arm to have swinging movement, and means for constantly urging the arm in one direction.

3. .The combinationwith a Wall having an opening and a swinging. closure member or such opening; of a member secured to the wall adjacent to the opening, a plate, means for connecting the plate to the door for movement about an axis parallel to the swinging axis of the door, a rod, means for pivotally connecting the rod tothe plate for swinging movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the plate, said rod being adapted for sliding engage ment with the closure member carried by the. wall, coacting means carried by the rod and door for constantly urging the rod toward the member carried by the wall, and coacting means carried by said last named member and rod for locking the rod to the member to hold the closure member against movement when in a partly open position.

4. In combination with a wall having an opening, a swinging closure member there for, a hollow member secured to the wall adjacent to the opening and provided with a slot in one of its walls, one end of the slot being open, a rod, means for operatively connecting the rod to the door, an arm carried by the rod and insertable with the member through the slot, an enlargement carried by the arm adapted to extend within the member, said enlargement beuig of a Width greater than the width of the slot, the open end portion of the slot being enlarged to permit said enlargement of the arm to pass therethrough, said arm being in position to be moved through the enlarged portion of the slot only when the door is in completely closed position, said member being provided with means for coaction with the arm to hold the door ajar, and means for limiting the movement of the rod along the member secured to the wall when the enlargement of the arm is rested upon the exterior surface of said member.

5. In combination with a wall having an opening, a swinging closure member therefor, a hollow member secured to the wall adjacent to the opening and provided with a slot in one of its walls, one end of the slot being open, a rod, means for operatively connecting the rod to the door, an arm carried bythe rod and insertable with the member through the slot, an enlargement car ried by the arm adapted to extend within the member, said enlargement being of a. width greater than the Width of the slot, the open end portion of the slot being enlarged to permit said enlargement of the arm to pass therethrough, said arm being in position to be moved through the enlarged portion of the slot only when the door is in with meanslfor coaction with the arm to l the arm to hold the door aim, and outstanding lugs carriecl by the wall of the second member providedwith the slot and with which the enlargement of the arm of the rod is adapted tocontaet upon' inward swinging movement-0f the closure member when said enlargement is rested upon the exterior face of said wall. r 10 In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

SAMUEL 'J. RAW INGS. 

